Overview

Pros

Cons

1-line display

No front side USB

Quick Take

If you are looking for a no nonsense single function monochrome printer with quick print speeds and great quality, look no further.

As I mentioned in the first look of the Brother HL-6180dw, this review is the first in three reviews we will be sharing from Brother’s summer launch of nine new monochrome printers. The HL-6180dw is a completely new configuration, meaning it’s not replacing a past generation model with some minor upgrades, and its flagship of the single function monochrome lineup (there is the HL-6180dwt which includes a second drawer standard).

Today, I’ll be divulging our test lab results where we measure speeds, quality, ease of use, software and more. By the end of this review, you should have an excellent idea on the performance of the HL-6180dw and whether it might be the right fit for your office!

Build and Design

The HL-6180dw may be a new addition to the small office market, but it reminds me of the HL lineup from 2010, with its complete black exterior (dropping the lackluster gray was smart in my humble opinion) and simple design. It offers a compact footprint as any small office would expect with approximate dimensions of 14 x 15 x 11-inches in nonuse, but if you plan on using the 50-sheet multipurpose tray, you’ll find the depth dimensions jump from 15 inches to closer to 23 inches.

It’s a fairly sturdy box, but not to the point that you can’t easily move it, weighing in at just over 25 lbs without consumables. Seeing as it is a single function monochrome laser printer, it offers a simple control panel with a 1-line backlit LCD, seven quick keys and two LED lights for standalone use. You won’t find a front side USB port which was a slight bummer.

Press the small black button located at the end of the 150-sheet output tray to access the inside of the HL-6180dw and find the two-piece consumable set included with purchase: a 3,000 page yield standard capacity toner cartridge and a 30,000 page yield drum unit. Brother offers customers three different cartridge options: the standard capacity mentioned above, an 8,000 page yield high capacity cartridge and a 12,000 page yield super high capacity cartridge.

The HL-6180dw features a large 500-sheet paper drawer and a 50-sheet multipurpose tray, but customers with high print volumes might consider the second 500-sheet drawer found standard on the HL-6180dwt configuration.

One of the more exciting features for small offices found on the HL-6180dw is the built-in wireless connectivity. Not a fan of wireless connectivity? You can still network the HL-618dw with the Gigabit Ethernet or connect locally using the Hi-Speed USB 2.0 connection. But if you plan on setting up the HL-6180dw over a network connection, customers can print from a variety of mobile devices using Apple AirPrint, Google Cloud Print, Brother’s iPrint&Scan, Cortado Workplace or Wi-Fi Direct.